As I jumped into the lift at the salt-mine one morning this week someone said, "How was the ride today?"
With a huge grin and in all honesty I was able to reply, "Bloody marvellous." [If someone asks, I'm more than happy to share the bike love.]
With a dubious look my non-cycling questioner observed, "A bit cold though."
Eh? Confused, I mumbled something like , "Yeah, I suppose it was."
It only occurred to me later that folks who don't ride, just don't get it. They step out of an overheated car or train or tram and get a blast of cold air. Naturally, they think the cyclist is going to be even more chilly.
But my heating comes from inside—and at the end of my commute I'm nice and toasty. Chilly conditions were the last thing on my mind when I was asked about my ride!
And here's the rub: no-one believes you when you tell them that winter cycling is a joy. But let's face it, winters in Melbourne are really pretty mild. It's unusual for overnight low temperatures to get below 4°C, snow never falls in the city, and it hardly ever rains these days (seriously, it never rains). Of course, I reckon autumn is the best time for cycling in Melbourne, but winter has it's charms too.
Sure there are foggy mornings, but fog just acts like a big blanket—it stops things getting too chilly and (best of all) wind and fog rarely occur together. Visibility issues aside, I like foggy mornings.
As for those gorgeous winter mornings with no wind, blue sky and a gentle sun—sublime! Of course they don't happen every day but they happen often enough to be rewarding. These are the days on which I seek out sunny patches and bask when stopped at traffic lights.
But enough of all this. What advice have I on commuting by bike in winter? Here are three pearls:
1. Rug-up
Of course, you need to dress for the conditions. This means:
-
keeping the body's core warm (ultimately, that's for survival)
-
keeping the extremities warm: toes, fingers, ears and nose—if these are cold, you won't be comfortable
-
layer dressing: allows you to easily adjust your coverage to suit the conditions
Dressing for the conditions needn't be difficult or expensive. For a climate like Melbourne's there's little need to buy fancy specialist gear—some of my best cold-weather kit came from places like Best and Less and Aldi. And what does my kit include? Well, I wear cycling clothes for my commute, so my base layer is just my usual warm weather gear (jersey, knicks, bandana). From there I simply pile-on extra stuff to suit conditions.
Long-sleeve T-shirt or rain jacket
I know the experts say not to wear cotton in cold and wet conditions because it becomes hopelessly clingy and cold when it's wet. But it has the advantage of being cheap and available everywhere, and for a short run to/from work it makes a perfectly acceptable second layer. If it looks like rain, I'll pull on the rain jacket instead.
Arm-warmers and headband
The arm-warmers and headband are great for fine-tuning the comfort level. Both are home-made (thanks SuperGran). I rarely wear a headband these days, as I find that pulling my bandana over my ears keeps things warm enough.
Gloves
My thermal gloves are some nice Thinsulate ones that I picked up at Aldi a year or two ago. (And I picked up an extra pair when they went on sale again recently.) Soft and comfortable yet strong, they're a bit bulky but don't interfere with handlebar grip or operating brake and gear levers. Oh yeah, and they retain warmth when wet. All for about $10 per pair.
Tights
For the legs, some of those stretchy tights of the type worn by lithe gym-goers—fortunately they do come in generous sizes, for those of us who aren't particularly lithe. Mine are nothing special, straight from some department store or other. My favourite pair are long enough that I can pull them down below my heels and tuck them into my shoes, which covers the ankles nicely.
Socks
Chilly feet are the worst, I reckon, so socks are important. I'll admit to lashing out for a few pairs of thermal polypropylene socks, over which I pull an ordinary pair of thin cycling socks. But I have been known to put a freezer bag over each foot, which does the trick for my commute but I wouldn't pull that trick on a longer ride.
Other stuff
I always wear eye protection when riding, but in winter it's not so much about keeping critters out and more to stop cold air blasting straight onto my corneas.
I also try to have an extra layer to put on in case I have to make an unexpected stop (e.g. to fix a flat tyre). That's usually my rain jacket, so it hardly counts as a extra layer if I'm already wearing it…
If you dress to the conditions, winter riding is just as comfortable as any other time of year. In fact, it's far easier than riding in the height of summer. And if you live close enough to your workplace, it's perfect for riding to work in your office attire—you certainly won't get all sweaty.
2. Light-up
Another important consideration in winter is lighting. Of course, it gets dark earlier at this time of year but lights aren't only for use at night. Gloomy overcast days and fog reduce visibility on the road, so switch on the flashers well before it gets completely dark.
Also consider the drivers' conditions—frosty mornings may often be bright and clear but car windows will always be icy and steamed. If your lights are on, you are far more likely to be seen through a streaky windscreen.
3. Drink-up
In cooler conditions it's easy to forget that you're exercising and you need to keep drinking. A few years ago, Doc Homebrew found that he was getting leg cramps on rides home in mid-winter, an odd time of year for such a problem to crop-up. It turned out to be a hydration issue and he solved it by making sure he drank more on those rides.
So there you have it—my thoughts on bike commuting in mid-winter. But don't take my word for it: rug-up, light-up, drink-up and discover for yourself that bike fun doesn't stop when the warm weather does.
I beat cold feet with windstopper socks from Ground Effect. If it's wet I'll wear overshoes but my feet sweat in them so my socks are often as wet as if I didn't wear them - but at least my shoes are dry.
I have a winter windstopper fleece top but I'm finding it a bit too warm, particularly for the ride home in the afternoon, when it's more than 3 or 4 degrees.
I love riding when you can see your breath. It makes me feel alive!
Great read and I share your views. I turn up at work and people look at me like I'm crazy. They're the crazy ones driving to work (via Maccas) ;)
Cheers Lee
Comments
Have to agree with the autumn rides being best - crisp clear mornings, cold with no wind. Awesome.
I've never really had any hassles with the temperature - the first few hundred metres might lead to some shuddering, but once I get pedalling, I find that too many layers is way too hot - even on a 5C day, I'd be riding in shorts and a tshirt after a couple of kms. I, er, come with plenty of my own insulation tho.
The only hassle I find is on the days where your breath frosts, the beard gets a little squelchy :)
(Must. Get. Well. Stupid flu/bronchitis)